Sorting system



A. F. DOOLEY SORTING SYSTEM Jan. 19, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 20, 1949 Jan. 19, 1954 A. F. DOOLEY 2,666,533

SORTING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 20, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 19, 1954 A. F. DOOLEY SORTING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Aug. 20, 1949 in pew? &

. Jan. 19, 1954 A. F. DOOLEY 2,666,538

SORTING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 20, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES ereNr OFFICE Jordan Marsh Company, B.os tdn,iMass., a corporation of Massachusetts a Original application Augustjt 2lL- l'9d9, Serial No 111,471. Divided and this-application May 24, 1951 SerialNo. 228,060 1 veyor belt along which stand a number of sorters A whose dutyit is to read the addresses or route code numbers on the'packages and remove them ffomthe'belt at stations representing the different routes followed by the delivery trucks. It will'be seen 'that 'thesorter at the first station must scan 100% of the packages in order to pick out those 'few bearing addresses in his zone. The last sorter theoreticallyhas only to remove all packages arriving at his station, although in practice packages for other'stations reach him as 'theresult" of errors of 'the'previous sorters; Such a system requires a large number of persons ror'wcrker the most tedious kind. a

- Theflmost important object of my invention is toiprovide a practical-automatic sorting cone wm' i '-Another'job'ject of the invention is to reduce the cost} of delivering merchandise by eliminating non-productive man hours wasted by sorters in scanningpackagesnot pertinent to their activity; 'otherobject of the invention-is to increase the-speed and efiiciency with which large numbers bffobject's may be separated into discrete grouped-classes ""An importa'nt'feature of my invention resides iii the combination of a conveyor belt having a series of groups of holes, a'plurality of means for' 'iemovingobjects from the belt, and actuating" fingers' mountedbeneath the belt in spaced laterally offset relation, each actuating'finger being effective to'operate one of said object-removingm'eans in response to excitation by a ball dropped through oneofthe'holes in thebelt: "A p at" sii'pp'orts'theu per rumof the-belt and-is provided with holes =over each -"of the actuatin fiiige'rs. I-he result is that a sorter-at the head 5 Claims. (01. 214 -11) of the belt may scan the addresses of the'fin-l coming packages and then drop a ball into'th'at one of the group of holes' by the package which will ride, over the desired finger; The ball then ridesin the belt hole and upon the plate, until it drop' s'through the hole in the plate, operates the actuatingfinger and effects removal of'the package at the pre-selected station.

Ihe present application is a division "of my co pending application Ser. No. 111,471, filed Aug st20,1949. Q f I: a

These and other objects and features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments selected for'purposes'of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

Figs. 1 3 are views in vertical cross-section through a ball-loading device associated with a conveyor belt, l

Figs. 4 and 5 are views in vertical cross-section through the control mechanism'for removing packages atone selected station,

'-Fig. 16 is a plan view of an alternate form' of ball-carryingdevice, v i *7 Fig. "7 is a view in cross-section along the line 1 1 of Fig. 6, I

Fig; 8 is a view in perspective showing the re ferred form of package removing device,

' Figsf9-1l are exploded views in perspectiveof elements of the package-removing system shown il'rFigQ8, e V

Figs; l2and 13 are side elevations ofthe two ends of the conveyorsystem,

Fig.14 is a view incross-section along the line l l -I4o'fFig.13.

- Coming now to the details of the'preferred embodiment illustrated, I'shall first discuss thev ball-loading device associated with a conveyor belt? I fIn Figs. 1-3 I have shown one convenient mechanism for loading balls into the conveyor belt it which is, of course, of any desired length and width x and preferably made of rubberized canvas or the like. In its upper run the belt travels over the surface of 'a continuous steel supporting plate lfil. The length of the belt and the number of holesin each group is determined by -the'number of? discharge stations included-4n thesystem.-

At the head or entering end of the system the plate I02 is provided with a group of holes in each of which is set a vertical metal tube I04. The tubes may be arranged in any convenient pattern provided no two are longitudinally aligned with respect to the direction of movement of the belt I00. Let into the side of each tube I04 is a downwardly inclined magazine tube I06 of the same diameter as the tube I04 and designed to accommodate a supply of steel balls I08. Sliding in each tube is a cylindrical plunger I I having an exterior flange I I2 at its lower end, which works in an oversize tube II 4 telescoped over the tube I04, and retractable downwardly until it meets a stop H6, In its lowermost position the plunger uncovers the end of the magazine tube I06 and permits one ball to roll out on top of the plunger. A compression spring H8 is seated in the tube I I4 and serves to force the plunger upwardly. Fig. 1 shows a ball I08 in position on the plunger, the upper end of the tube I04 then being closed by the belt I00; the hole I40 has not yet reached loading position. In Fig. 2 the plunger has been released and the ball I08 carried up into contact with the moving belt. In Fig. 3 the hole I40 has come into registry with the end of the tube I04 and the ball has been thrust up into the hole. To prevent the balls I08 from popping through the belt holes, the plungers may be magnetized sufliciently to hold the balls in place until the onwardly moving belt sweeps them along over the plate I02.

To actuate the plungers H0 I provide cables I20 secured to the lower ends of the plungers and carried down around pulleys I22. The other ends of the cables are secured to pivotally mounted levers (not shown) arranged in keyboard fashion at the side of the head of the belt run.

An operator located adjacent the keyboard will scan the addresses on the packages as they are put on to the belt. Then it is only necessary to operate the lever (which may be marked appropriately) to place a ball in the proper One of the holes I40. The holes may be located ahead or behind the package carrying space, and the spacing of the packages will of course be determined by their size.

Adjacent each discharge station the plate I02 is provided with a hole for a vertical tube 50 in the side of which is an aperture into which projects the arm 58 of a microswitch 60 supported on the side of the tube 50 by means of an angle bracket 64. Pivotally mounted in the wall of the tube 50 is a finger or shutter 62 normally inclined into the hollow tube 50 and in contact with the switch arm 58. As the packages travel along with the belt I00 the balls I08 begin to drop in their proper tubes 50. If at any one station no ball drops into the tube 50, that station is not activated. On the other hand, if a ball does drop into the tube, the package discharging mechanism is actuated to remove the package from the belt at that station. A succession of packages may be consecutively removed at one station or distributed among a number of them, all according to the location of the balls I08 in the successive spaced groups of holes I40.

Each microswitch 66 controls the operation of an independent package remover, hereinafter described. First however an alternative ball carrier will be discussed, with reference to Figs. 6 and 7.

It may be felt that the belt I00 would be seriously weakened by the multiplicity of groups of holes. The ball carrier shown in Figs. 6 and '7 obviates the necessity for making holes in the belt. In this instance the belt I travels over a plate I62 having a hole IE4 at each discharge station. At intervals the belt is crimped upwardly between two elongated arcuate members I66 and I68 riveted together as shown at I20 and corrugated or indented as shown at I22 to provide cooperatin belt-gripping members. The lower arcuate member IE6 is provided at spaced intervals with transverse Walls or partitions I14 to provide a number of compartments I16 for the reception of the balls I08. Each ball compartment is centered with respect to the tubes set into the plate I62. In Fig. 6 the upper ends of the loadin tubes at the head end of the belt are shown at I18.

The operation of the system equipped with a carrier of the type shown in Figs. 6 and '7 i the same as heretofore explained, the only differ- .ence being that the balls I08 are loaded from the tubes into the compartments I16 where, as can best be seen in Fig. '7, they ride under the belt and roll easily along the surface of the plate until they drop into receiving tubes.

The preferred type of package removing mechanism is shown in Figs. 8-14 wherein it appears that the belt 300, riding on the plate 302, has a plurality of sets of tilting plates hingedly secured to it. Each tilting plate assembly includes a long flexible hinge member 304 secured to the upper surface of the belt in transverse position and formed of rubber, rubberized canvas or the like and having a flange portion cemented or otherwise secured to the margin of a base plate 306. The hinge may conveniently be secured to the upper arcuate plate I68 shown in Fig. '7. The base plate is in turn secured along a longitudinal margin at right angles to the hinge 304 to one element of a long hinge 308 which joins the base plate'306 to an upper plate 3I0, the plates 306 and 3I0 being recessed to accommodate the hinge members.

A stud 3I2 secured to one corner of the base plate 306 carries a freely turning roller 3I4, and a stud 3I6 secured to the upper plate 3I0 at the other side of the belt carries a freely turning roller 3 I 8.

Secured closely parallel the plate 302 and underlying the rollers 3I8 is a flat plate or track member 328 along which the rollers 3I8 travel as the belt moves. At spaced positions along the track 320 are plate lifts secured in place by suitable brackets 322 and each comprising an upwardly and inwardly inclined guide track 324 to the forward end of which is secured a short pivotally mounted track section 326. A latch 328 normally engages a projecting stop 330 on the member 326 and serves to hold the latter in elevated position sufficiently high to clear the successive rollers 3I8 as they travel over the plate 320. A solenoid 332 is poised over the latch 328 and serves, when energized, to release the latch and permit the track section 326 to pivot downwardly to rest at its end on the track 320. The lowered section engages an oncomin roller 3I8 and causes it to travel up the inclined track 324 and then back down again. During this operation the upper plate 3I0 is pivoted upwardly about the hinge 308 to the position shown at the second station in Fig. 8. The inclination of the plate 3I0 is sufficient to cause any package placed thereon to slide oil into a receiving chute (not shown in Fig. 8). As the roller 3I3 travels up the pivoting track section 326 it encounters an upwardly inclined finger 326A, shown" best 'Fi i 'lt), and-forces the tra'ck326 toreturn to its'latched' 'position so that th latch 328 again fi' e's'the step "332 and the section 326 is held in elevated position until such time asthe solenoid wi ds-againenergized. As before, the soleid t ol1ed by a microswitph which in turn is controlled "by-an" actuating finger operated by one of the ballsf'llltl' asf'shown iniFigs; 4 and 5.

At the rear end of thetrack 324 is another pivoted track section 336 with'which is integrally" formed a. counterweight 333-, so dimensioned; as normally to hold the track seeming-ass inl iag-hdr-iiont'al' eievatedpcsmcn. Whn'a roller '3 I 8 trayels down the rear portion of the track 324, it rolls onto the pivotin section 330 which then is lowered by the weight of the roller so that the roller travels down it and back to the surface of the long plate 320. When the roller 3 l8 leaves the far end of the track 336, the counterweight 338 is efiective to restore this section to horizontal elevated position.

In order to provide for smooth travel of the tilting plate assembly over the. ends of the conveyor belt runs I employ the arcuate guide tracks shown in Figs. 12 and 13. Fig. 12 shows the head end of the conveyor system with the belt 303 traveling over the plate 362 after leaving the surface of a large wheel 350. At one side of the wheel 350 there is provided an arcuate guide track 352, in which travels the successive rollers 3| 8, merging into a straight track 354 running completely along the lower run of the conveyor. At the opposite side of the wheel there is a second arcuate track 356 of larger diameter than that of the track 352. The track 356 serves as a guide for the rollers M4. The track 356 also merges into a straight track 353 running the entire length of the conveyor. It will be seen that the straight tracks 354 and 358 serve to' hold the plates 310 and 306 fiat on the belt 330 as it travels along its lower run; then when a plate assembly approaches the forward end of the conveyor at the bottom thereof, the roller 3I8 enters the track 352 while the roller 3M enters the track 353. As the belt travels around the wheel 356 both plates 306 and 3N hinge about the member 334 and drop away from the surface of the belt 300. This action permits the belt to flex into the curve of the wheel while the arcuate tracks 352 and 354 guide the rollers and thus the plates in smooth fashion. At the top of the wheel the tracks 352 and 356 are discontinued because gravity then brings both plates 306 and 3!!) in flat condition upon the belt 300. A similar arrangement is shown at Fig. 13 at the rear end of the conveyor, where the belt travels over a wheel 366, there being provided an arcuate track 362 for the rollers 3| 8and a larger diameter arcuate track 364 for the rollers 314. At their lower ends the tracks 362 and 364 merge respectively into the straight bottom tracks 354 and 358.

Although in Figs. 8-14 the plate assemblies have been shown as relatively widely spaced, in practice it will be found advisable to space them very closely in order that the maximum area of the belt be usefully employed. The operation of the balls which control the package discharge means and as described in connection with Figs. 1-5 is, of course, applicable to the system shown in Figs. 8-14.

In summation, it will be evident that I have invented a sorting conveyor in which the belt is never stopped, thus facilitating rapid and emprovided a counterpoised guide at the rear end ci'e'ntppr'ation. Moreover'since each object to be sorted" is accompanied b'yione of the balls appropriately placed, the operation'of the package. removing mechanism is independent ofthe speed of the belt. *If for some reason the belt isrstoppedwhile packages are upon-it, no harm done sinceithe packages will :be discharged at the" proper" location when the belt is again started'up: 'When'it" is considered that in connection with ordinary conveyorsused for sorting purposes by large" retail establishments, for example, ,a's many as .thirty-one persons are employed in. scanning the oncoming packages and removingii-them iatnthe various stations, the importance of my invention will readily be understood. Whereas heretofore each sorting station has required a separate operator, a single person may serve several stations in my system, moving periodically from one to another to remove accumulated packages from the receiving chutes and place them into the delivery bins.

Although I have illustrated a system in which all objects are discharged on the same side of the conveyor belt, it is quite feasible, by obvious modifications, to secure discharge on both sides. Also it will be apparent that the balls may be loaded by hand in the conveyor belt if for any reason such'procedure is preferred.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A sorting conveyor comprising an endless conveyor belt, means mounting said belt for movement through a predetermined path, a plurality of carrying means hinged to said belt, a plate supporting one run of said belt, a plurality of inclined tracks mounted in succession along the side of said plate, intercepting means mounted adjacent the forward ends of each of said tracks, means carried by said belt for selectively causing said intercepting means to be moved into position to intercept and engage said carrying means, said tracks being effective to tilt said members upwardly and incline them with respect to said belt and means actuated by movement of said carrying means along said intercepting means for moving said intercepting means to a nonintercepting position.

2. A sorting conveyor comprising an endless conveyor belt, a plurality of plates hinged to the outer surface of said belt, a roller secured to each plate, a plurality of upwardly inclined tracks disposed at the side of said belt, a pivotally mounted guide secured to the forward end of each track, means for causing a selected one of said guides to be lowered to intercept one of said rollers, and means actuated by the movement of said roller along said guide for returning said guide to elevated position.

3. The conveyor defined in claim 2 wherein is of each of said inclined tracks.

4. A sorting conveyor comprising. an endless conveyor belt, a pair of wheels supporting the belt, a first set of plates each hingedly connected to said belt along one transverse edge, a second set of plates each hingedly connected to a longitudinal edge of one or" said first plates, a roller connected to each plate of each set, a plurality of upwardly and inwardly inclined tracks disposed adjacent said belt, a deflector adjacent the forward end of each of said tracks for engaging the rollers of said second set of plates, means normally latching said deflectors out of the path of said rollers, means selectively operable to disengage each latching means, and a pair of arcuate tracks mounted adjacent each of said wheels in position to receive said rollers and guide said plates around said wheels.

5. A sorting conveyor comprising an endless conveyor belt, a plurality of plates hinged to the outer surface of said belt, a roller secured to each plate and projecting beyond the edge of said belt, a plurality of upwardly inclined tracks disposed at the side of said belt, a pivotally mounted guide secured to the forward end of each track, means normally holding each guide in elevated position out of the path of movement of said rollers,

8 means including a solenoid for releasing the holding means to cause the guide to be lowered and means actuated by the movement of said roller along said guide for restoring the guide to elevated position.

ARTHUR F. DOOLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 708,698 Dodge Sept, 9, 1902 1,905,217 Constable et al. Apr. 25, 1933 2,310,461 Regan et a1. Feb. 9, 1943 

